Chasing Hank, the Babe and … Don Kessinger?

Listen to that darned media, and you’d be led to believe that Barry Bonds’ days of rewriting the baseball record book are just about over.

Not by a long shot.

In fact, Bonds is closing in — fast — on a mark so hallowed, so legendary and so downright unbelievable, the thought of anyone ever breaking it seemed nearly impossible. Or, about the same as the chances of President Bush re-scheduling his current Bay Area trip to include a ticker-tape parade down Market Street.

Here’s the record: in 1973, Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger received 18 intentional walks. And here’s the kicker: he did it without hitting any home runs.

It’s the most intentional walks ever drawn by a batter who never homered during the regular season.

Move over, DK — here comes Barry!

After drawing two free passes in his first two plate appearances in Denver on Friday night, Bonds (0 home runs) already has nine intentional walks — and it’s only April 21!

OK, granted, his phenomenal number of warning-track fly balls aside, Bonds figures to poke a few over the fence before the year (or, maybe even the night) is over. But at Bonds’ current pace, Kessinger — who cracked 14 home runs during a solid 16-year career as an outstanding defensive shortstop — has to be feeling the heat.

If the record does fall, no word on whether Kessinger would demand an asterisk next to Bonds’ name in the record book.